The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-12-26
How to Feed Bran.


How to Feed Bran.
There seems TO be some misunderstanding
among farmers and stock breeders as to the
proper way of feeding bran, corn meal, etc.
TO cattle, says "a Missouri correspondent of
the Rural Home, Probably a majority
feed it separately, while an intelligent mi
norfty feed it in combination with coarse
fodder.
He was not little surprised last winter
to see an extensive breederof Thoroughbred
stock feedaeach Of his cows and horses about
three quarts of bran mashed. On asking
him if he did not think it better to mix the
bran with coarse fodder and feed it in the
mixed form, the breeder replied: "Well,
should think it would make no difference
whether it was mixed before or after it en-
tered the stomach" This may be true as
far as horses are concerned, at least the diff
ference is not so easily noticeable, yet we
prefer to feed mixed rations to horses and
viii give our reasons for it further on.
The digestive apparatus differs greatly in
the different species of domestic animals,
hence they require not only different ra-
tons, but they must also be put up differ
entity.
In the course of conversation on the
question of feeding mill stuffs to cattle, a
noted farmer related his experience as fol-
lows: "Some years ago 1 found myself
considerably short Of feed. owing to an ex-
ceedingly dry summer. The corn and hay
crops fell far below the average and beef
sold at miserably low figure. l had quite
herd of cattle, more than l could carry
through the winter, l feared; yet would
not sell my cows at from SIS to $40 per head,
which was about all they brought at that
time. So l bought limited quantities of
bran, had all my corn ground, and stored
away for feed nearly all my straw. After
the corn stalks were exhausted had to rely
entirely on straw and a small allowance of
bran and corn meal. At the outset | fed
the straw and bran separately, and my
cows soon refused to eat the straw So, in
order to get the better of EN- moistened
the straw and mixed the bran with it, with
the hope that they would consume all the
straw. 1t had the desired effect and, what
l had not in the least anticipated, my cows
yielded a much larger quantity OF milk.
This could not at first account for, but
finally came to the conclusion that the new
ration must have had something to do with
it So, in order to make sure, IretuIned to
the old method in the course of a few weeks.
AS before, they refused to eat the straw,
but no corn meal was given them until the
straw ration was consumed. There was at
once noticeable decline in the flow of
milk, aid was convinced that feeding mill
stuffs and coarse fodder in combination was
the proper way"
Treexperience of many farmers coincide
with the above, but why does it make a
difference whether it is mixed after or be-
fore it enters the stomachs Well, let us see.
Cattle, as ruminants, have stomach with
). four divisions or cavities. The food when
first swallowed is received in the rstcavity,
except such portions as are already dis
solved in the mouth and such fine food as
bran, inseed meal, etc. These do not stop
in the first cavity, but pass directly to the
third and fourth divisions. This applies to
full grown cattle only, as experiments made
in this direction tond TO show that this is
not the case with young cattle 1t would
probably not be out of place to state how
these facts were ascertained. Two fat COWS
and a steer, being about to be butchered,
were fed-about an hour before they were
killed-several quarts of corn meal. After
the animals were killed the stomachs were
examined. Nearly all the corn meal as
found in the third and fourth cavities of
the stomach of the cows, while in the case
of the steer it was nearly all found in the
first cavity.
Now, all food that is to be thoroughly di-
gested must first be received in the first
cavity, be acted upon by the secretions of
the walls of that cavity, then discharged
into the second cavity and likewise be acted
upon by the secretions of the walls of that
cavity, here formed into cuds, and these
returned to the mouth TO be rechewed. This
pulp, mixed with saliva, is then received in
the third cavity of the stomach to be pre-
pared for the fourth, where digestion is
finally completed. Now, when bran or mill
feed is fed in connection with coarse fodder
by far the greater portion Of it will go
through the entire course of digestion, and
hence will produce the desired effect. But
if mill stuffs are fed alone the larger part
of it is excreted undigested and hence its
beneficial effects are Of small significance.
Every farmer has observed that when cattle
have eaten small grain part of it is excreted
undigested. 1t is precisely the same with
bran and corn meal, only in greater de-
gree, but it does not become apparent in the
excrements because of its fineuess.
In view Of these considerations it is quite
plain that in order TO obtain the best re-
suits we should feed mill stuffs only in COM
bination, and not simply because the am
NAL will consume more coarse fodder and
insure thorough digestion of the fine feed
but because it is absolutely necessary for
the well-being of the animal
"Jimson'' Weed the Great Horse Medi-
cine.